Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Insurers’ Efforts To Deny Patients Coverage (NAPSA)—A newnationalpoll con- ducted by YouGovfoundthat 91 percent of Americansbelieve insurance companies should notbeallowed to deny cov- erage for people with chronic diseases whose premiumsare paid by charitable organizations. Knownas“charitable premium assis- tance?the federally approvedpractice of patients applying for and receiving help from charities to pay insurance premiumshas long beenaccepted. Yet recent efforts by insurers to undermine the A new poll shows most Americans opposeefforts by insurers to deny patients the opportunity to use practice have left many people worried charitable contributionsto help pay about their insurance coverage. Across the country more than 74,000 dialysis and kidney transplant patients—who are overwhelmingly unable to work because oftheir illness—rely on help from the American Kidney Fund (AKF) to afford health insurance premiums. ‘The poll found that 76 percent of respondents believe insurers want to block charitable premium assistance “to increase the company’s profits by not providing coverage for people who are very sick” “Consumers overwhelmingly reject efforts by thebillion-dollar health insur- ers, their lobbyists and their legislative patrons to deny charitable assistance that pays patients’ health insurance pre- miums,’ said LaVarne A. Burton,president and CEO of AKF. “Consumers are for insurance premiums. + 87 percent of consumers support the government’ current position ofletting private charities help patients pay their insurance premiums, co-pays, and out-of-pocket costs when the patient suffers from a debilitating ill- ness such as kidneyfailure. +71 percent of respondents think patientswith a chronicdisease should be able to choose their health insur- anceplan. This number dramatically exceeds those who think state and federal governments (17 percent) or health insurance companies (13 per- cent) should choose which health insurancea patient with a chronicdisease can have. Concluded AKF’s Burton,“I believe smartenough tosee through theinsurers’ false statements andto recognize insurer effortsto endorlimit charitable premium assistance are clear evidence of insurers doing what they dobest: trying to find every possible way notto pay for sick people inherently understand that if legislators whowilltake the insurers’ side insteadofprotectingsick patients.” ‘The poll showed that individuals are notinclined to votefor legislators who ‘Asthe nation’s leading independent nonprofit working on behalf of the 30 million Americans with kidneydisease, people’ care?’ she said. “The question is whether they've beenable to find enough insurers are successful in their cam- paign against people with kidney dis- ease, people with other chronicdiseases will be easy next targets. We'll continue to protect patients by working with legislators and regulators at the national andstate levels.” AKF is dedicated to ensuring that every side with insurers. A vast majority of kidneypatienthas access to health care respondents (88 percent) are less willing and that every person atrisk for kid- to vote for a politician who supports the industry’sefforts. ‘Whatthe Survey Shows Among thefindings: +91 percent of respondentsfelt private insurance companies should not be allowed to kick patients with chronic diseasesoff their health insurance just because the patients’ premiums are paid by anorganization such as a nonprofit charity. ney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF provides a complete spectrum of programs andservices: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, anddirectfinancial assistance enabling onein five U.S.dialysis patients to accesslifesaving medical care, includingdialysis and transplantation. For Learn More further facts, visit kidneyfund.org/therealstory. www.
